For starters, they are by nature controversial in subject matter, and capable of annoying a large part of your potential audience if they don't agree with the sentiment.

There's also the possibility of a backlash if you stand on a soap-box too often, and preach the message in a way seen as sanctimonious.

There is another approach, however, which is to address the man or woman on the street on their own level, and to use common sense to get a point across.

That's exactly the route Ian Brown has taken with latest album The World Is Yours, which largely tackles the issue of the Iraq War throughout its 12 string-laden tracks. Of course, Brown being the Mancunian everyman that he is, he doesn't stand on ceremony and rant - his argument is clear, simple, and very sound.

"I got so fed up of watching the news and not hearing any alternative voice anywhere on the matter," he says passionately. "We've all suffered so much propaganda over the last five or six years and I got sick of it.

"Some people have criticised me for being too late with these songs, but I don't believe that, because it's still happening. Civilians are still dying in the Middle East as a result of this so-called war, our young boys and girls are still joining the army and six weeks later can be out there fighting."

The title of his latest single, Illegal Attacks, is self-explanatory. He's helped out on the song by outspoken Irish songstress Sinead O'Connor, whose cutting vocals underpin Brown's distinctive drawl.

The self-styled King Monkey, who plays Birmingham Carling Academy tonight, is over the moon at the result, and when thinking of a female singer to duet with he had only one name on his mind.

"It was a sort of pipe dream," he says. "I wanted someone who had the courage to do it, someone who didn't care about the record sales and also someone who sounded beautiful so they can get through to people. Sinead was the obvious choice.

"I'd never met her, and didn't know anyone that knew her either, so I sent the rough demo and the lyrics to her manager along with my contact details. I wasn't really expecting anything to come back, but as she was top of my list, I sent them anyway and thought I'd then work my way down my list after she said no."

Thankfully, she didn't, and soon sent Ian a text saying she loved the song and wanted to be involved.

"She asked me to give her a few weeks as she'd just had a baby, so I just replied and said I'd wait however long it took. Recording with her over in Ireland was one of the best days I've ever spent in a recording studio."